Fed Officials Split as Powell Weighs December Interest Rate Cut 
Japan’s Rising Inflation Strengthens Case for a Near-Term BOJ Rate Hike 
BOK Expected to Hold Rates at 2.50% as Housing and Currency Pressures Persist 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
BOJ’s Noguchi Calls for Cautious, Gradual Interest Rate Hikes to Sustain Inflation Goals 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
UK Raises Deposit Protection Limit to £120,000 to Strengthen Saver Confidence 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is expected to adopt a rate cut at its upcoming monetary policy meeting scheduled to be held next week, according to the latest report from ANZ Research.
The market will be shocked if the RBA doesn’t cut in June. Of more interest will be any clues it might provide about action beyond that. If the post-board meeting statement doesn’t provide any clues, attention will switch to the Governor’s speech that evening.
As for the data, the smallest current account deficit relative to GDP since the 1970s is expected. Retail sales look likely to be flat for the month of April, but we expect Q1 GDP to be better than the second half of last year and in line with what the RBA expects.
Given that the central scenario had inflation just inside the target band by the end of the forecast period, anything less favourable is unlikely to be an acceptable outcome for the RBA.
While the economy clearly lost momentum late last year, Q1 GDP is shaping up better and not everything is gloomy with regard to the outlook. For instance, Q1 capex pointed to growth in non-mining business investment in 2019-20, the report added.
